Rick Steves' Europe - Season 12

Rick Steves' Europe - Season 12

Season 12

Season 12 of Rick Steves' Europe features a dozen new episodes showcasing Europe's great art and architecture in bite-size chunks. Join Rick as he explores the rise of Western Civilization as seen through Europe's most beautiful and evocative art: climbing deep into prehistoric tombs, summiting Michelangelo's magnificent dome, waltzing through glittering palaces, and pondering artistic genius from Praxiteles to Picasso.
Network
DatesOct 10, 2023 - Dec 17, 2023
Previous Season

Episodes

Art of Prehistoric Europe
Season 12Episode 130 min

Art of Prehistoric Europe

As the Ice Age glaciers melted, prehistoric Europe bloomed with surprisingly sophisticated art. From Ireland to France, Scotland to the Greek Isles, we traverse that mystical world of mighty megaliths, torchlit cave paintings, magical goddesses, and wrinkled bog people. We stand in awe as a massive tomb is radiated by a dramatic beam of sunlight and listen to ritual horns that still play today.
Oct 10, 2023
Art of Ancient Greece
Season 12Episode 230 min

Art of Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece laid the foundations of Western art. Traveling from its sun-splashed isles to the rugged mainland to bustling Athens, we trace the rise of Greek culture. We marvel at the timeless Acropolis, perfect Parthenon, and Golden Age theaters. And we watch as art evolves from stiff statues to perfectly balanced Venuses to the exuberant Winged Victory, capturing the spirit of the age.
Oct 17, 2023
Ancient Roman Art
Season 12Episode 330 min

Ancient Roman Art

We follow Rome's rise through its awe-inspiring art, starting at Rome's humble birthplace in the Forum. Soon Rome is graced with supersized monuments like the majestic domed Pantheon and the Colosseum, where gladiators battled to the death. We also get a glimpse of Rome's more intimate side: the colorful mosaics, luxurious frescoes, and realistic portraits of the solid citizens who made Rome great.
Oct 24, 2023
Art of the Roman Empire
Season 12Episode 430 min

Art of the Roman Empire

With its vast empire, ancient Rome gave Europe its first common culture. From England to Turkey, we explore the greatest Roman cities, marveling at their over-the-top art, soaring aqueducts, and crowd-pleasing theaters. As Rome fell, saints replaced Caesars and Christianity filled the vacuum with art-filled churches — preserving the grandeur of imperial Rome and inspiring the Europe to come.
Oct 31, 2023
Art of the Early Middle Ages
Season 12Episode 530 min

Art of the Early Middle Ages

After Rome's fall, Europe's Christians kept culture alive with art rooted in their deep faith. We visit sturdy Romanesque churches filled with art that reinforced the ruling order. Meanwhile, Europe was invigorated from the fringes: Byzantines to the East, with their dazzling mosaics; Spanish Muslims with their lush palaces; and fierce Vikings of the North — all part of Europe's rich cultural stew.
Nov 7, 2023
Art of the High Middle Ages
Season 12Episode 630 min

Art of the High Middle Ages

As Europe passed AD 1000, its growing prosperity was reflected in soaring Gothic cathedrals graced with colorful altarpieces, lacy stonework, and radiant stained glass. We visit luxurious castles to see exquisite tapestries showing a new secular love of worldly pleasures and, end in Italy, where pioneering artists like Giotto were mastering realism and pointing the way to the future of art.
Nov 5, 2023
Art of the Florentine Renaissance
Season 12Episode 730 min

Art of the Florentine Renaissance

The "rebirth" of Florence is powered by Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael and Michelangelo, whose David sculpture and painting of the Sistine takes the Florentine Renaissance to new heights.

Nov 17, 2023
Art of the Renaissance Beyond Florence
Season 12Episode 830 min

Art of the Renaissance Beyond Florence

Lacy architecture and ethereal paintings by El Greco in Spain and Portugal; in Germany and Belgium, technologies enable Durer's mass-produced engravings, Jan van Eyck's oil paintings, Brueghel's peasants at play and the futuristic visions of Bosch.

Nov 24, 2023
Baroque Art
Season 12Episode 930 min

Baroque Art

Forged in Europe's religious struggles, Baroque art inspired the faithful and dazzled the masses. We start in Rome, with its awe-inspiring St. Peter's, fleshy Bernini statues and bubbly fountains. In Belgium, we see the dramatic canvases of Rubens. And finally: the ultimate Baroque palace, Versailles, with its chandeliered Hall of Mirrors and vast gardens where nobles played as Revolution brewed.
Nov 26, 2023
Art of the Neoclassical and Romantic Ages
Season 12Episode 1030 min

Art of the Neoclassical and Romantic Ages

Europe's Neoclassical buildings of columns and domes, dramatic Romantic paintings depicting extreme emotions and nature; touring castles.

Dec 3, 2023
Art of the Impressionists and Beyond
Season 12Episode 1130 min

Art of the Impressionists and Beyond

Impressionist works, including Monet's lilies, Renoir's ladies, Degas' snapshots and Rodin's statues; tracing the travels of Van Gogh through his art; wild and crazy buildings in Spain

Dec 10, 2023
Art of the 20th Century
Season 12Episode 1230 min

Art of the 20th Century

The wild, colorful, surreal and fun art of the 20th century, from Spain to Hungary to Glasgow to Oslo; the works of Pablo Picasso.

Dec 17, 2023

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